The Inspector-General of Police has issued a stern warning to criminal elements to steer clear of Anambra State ahead of the upcoming governorship election, saying law enforcement agencies will “use the full rights of the law to ensure peace.”
During a security review session in Awka on Wednesday, the IGP addressed a gathering of senior police officials, local government security heads and election-monitors. He stressed:
“To the criminal element, I would say that it is better for them to leave Anambra. We are going to use the full rights of the law to ensure that any attempt at disrupting the election will be met decisively.”
The announcement accompanies deployment details from the Nigeria Police Force, which plans to station thousands of officers and track potential trouble-spots across the state’s 21 local government areas.
The warning comes amid concerns that vote-rigging, ballot‐box snatching and hometown gangs may seek to undermine the election scheduled for November 8.
Officials confirmed joint operations with the State Security Service (SSS), Civil Defence and the Department of State Services (DSS), emphasising that terrorists, militia groups and IPOB-linked armed elements will be treated as national security threats, not ordinary criminal suspects.
